Here are the specs on this cigar:

Wrapper: Brazil arapiraca maduro

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican

Pre- Light:  Before I cut and lit the cigar, as I usually do, I ran the cigar across the length of my nose, and to my surprise, I got a nice coffee smell, with some slight white pepper smells on the foot.  I gently squeezed the cigar, and got just the right amount of “give” to the wrapper.  Thus far, everything is very nice with this cigar.  There are not a lot of veins, or imperfections in this cigar.  I am anxious to smoke it, so I clip it with the ever trusty Palio, and light up with my Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I torched this cigar, the first few puffs brought some nice coffee and sweet flavor.  The draw on this cigar is just about perfect, with just a slight resistance, just the way I like it.  On the finish, I am getting some nice straight tobacco flavors.  The ash is holding on, but just barely.  The cigar is burning nice, and the smoke is billowing.  Overall, so far, this cigar is tasting pretty good, and also very straight forward.  Not a lot of complexity, but tasting good.

2/3:  As I continued on this cigar, the ash decided to drop right at the beginning of this portion.  I started to get less of the maduro sweetness, and more of the nice straight forward tobacco flavors.  The draw is still very nice, and the smoke is still billowing very nicely.  I started to get a little white pepper spice on the finish at this point, which made for an interesting combination.  At this point, the cigar is good, yet straight forward.

3/3:  As I finished up this cigar, the maduro sweetness came back a bit more, with the spice and tobacco flavors fading a bit.  The ash is getting a little flaky, but that’s ok with me.  The cigar is still burning nicely, and the draw is still great.  As I got to the end of this cigar, one thing I did notice, is that the cigar got a little harsh.  I am sure it was just a fluke, as I have smoked 2 others of this cigar, and did not experience that at all.

Overall Impression:  Overall, this cigar is good, and very straightforward.  If the price point is reasonable, I could see using these as an everyday smoke.  They are not the most complex cigar out there, but the flavors you do get are good.  I want to thank Loren of Casa Gomez for sending me a few samples to smoke.  I look forward to reviewing the Casa Gomez Connecticut soon!

Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em If you Don’t!

Scott

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1/3: My immediate impression upon lighting up and taking a few puffs, is that this cigar offers some very nice flavors for a maduro. I do get a slight hint of spice, with a very distinct, almost molasses like sweetness on the finish. There is also a slight coffee hint to the smoke as well. The ash is sturdy, and the smoke is billowing nicely. The draw is a bit tight, but not so bad that I can’t enjoy it. So far, I’m enjoying it immensly.

2/3: As I continue on the cigar, the ash is still holding strong. The molasses sweetness and coffee are still very pronounced, but the spiciness kicked it up a notch as well. This is a very well balanced cigar thus far, and the smoke billows nicely. I am quickly becoming a fan of this smoke!

3/3: As I finish up this cigar, the molasses sweetness, coffee and spice are still apparent. The ash finally dropped at this point, but only because I forced it to. The construction on this cigar is awesome. The flavors are complex and well balanced, and the price point is very reasonable, at aroun $5-6 per stick.

Overall Impression: Overall, I am planning on picking up ALOT more of these. I could see these as a regular smoke in my rotation. Once again, Flatbed Cigars hit’s a homerun. I highly suggest you guys pick up some of these!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!
Scott

Disclaimer: I will have more pictures coming.. I am having issues getting pictures uploaded…

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Contact: Cigar Express Distributors
Name: Kris Kachaturian
Telephone: 305.762.6188
Email: cigarexpress@aol.com

For Immediate Release

Miami, FL, 31 July – Cigar Express is pleased to announce the exciting new cigar release San Lotano, a signature blend by A.J. Fernandez.  With a rich history, San Lotano dates back to Cuba’s pre-Castro era where the brand was among the most popular with traditional Cuban cigar makers.  Retired for decades, the line is being reintroduced by A.J. Fernandez whose grandfather first started the brand in San Luis, Cuba.  San Lotano is made entirely by hand in the Fernandez factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, and is available in three enticing variations encompassing Habano, Connecticut and Maduro wrappers.

A.J. Fernandez is no stranger in the cigar industry.  As a third generation cigar maker, born in Cuba, Fernandez is well known for being one of the only cigar makers in the industry to still employ many of the oldest traditions and secrets that have earned him an unmatched reputation among cigar aficionados. When asked about the importance of the brand, A.J. says, “San Lotano has been a project many years in the making for me, and it is made to honor the tradition of cigar making that I learned from my father and my father’s father.  The blends are extremely rich, flavorful and are the culmination of my family’s knowledge which has been accumulated over the last century.”

The Fernandez factory is one of the largest in Nicaragua, producing 9 million cigars a year.  While this is the first nationally distributed release coming from Fernandez himself, he has made cigars for many notable brands in the industry over the past few years including: Padilla, Rocky Patel, Graycliff, Gurkha, Man O War, Diesel and many more. San Lotano will officially debut at this year’s IPCPR Tradeshow in New Orleans.  The brand will be available exclusively through brick and mortar tobacconists nationwide late this summer.

Should be a great offering by AJ Fernandez, and I can’t wait to give them a shot!

Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em If you Don’t!
Scott

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Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em If you Don’t!

Scott

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Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em If you Don’t!

Scott

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First things first, I need to thank the people at General Cigar for gifting these cigars to me.  Not expecting a thing, I got a package in the mail.  As I opened it  up, it had 5 of the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros, and the Punch “smoker” box with a few punch cigars in it.  I have no clue why they opted to send this package to me, but I am grateful, and I am humbled.  Thank you General Cigar!

Now, on to the review.  I was intrigued by this cigar, as the band is not in the typical spot that you’d expect to find it.  Instead of being near the head of the cigar, the band is found a bit past the halfway point, and acts as a “line” seperating the two wrappers on the cigar.  Here is what Victoria McKee Jaworski has to say about the cigar, taken from the LGC Blog:

La Gloria Cubana is pleased to introduce Artesanos de Tabaqueros, the second edition in the critically-acclaimed Artesanos series from La Gloria Cubana®.

Created by Team La Gloria Cubana to showcase the artistry of La Gloria Cubana “tabaqueros” (artisan cigar makers), Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are a stunning embodiment of the time-honored craft of cigar making. So exacting is the skill required to handcraft cigars of this complexity that Benji Menendez personally selected an elite group of just 18 master cigar makers, representing the cream of the crop from El Credito Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic.

Meticulously crafted to combine two different wrappers and two distinct tastes in one eye-catching cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros is a world-class smoke that opens to a rich and intriguing spice and ultimately reveals a depth of flavor that can only be achieved through a precise balance of unique and rare tobaccos. Hand selected from General Cigar’s extensive library of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos, the cigars are dressed in both a supple Connecticut Shade and hearty Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The blend is made solely of proprietary tobaccos, each aged five years or more.

Presented with two different wood treatments to promote the unique tastes promised in each cigar, Artesanos de Tabaqueros cigars are protected in boxes of 25. The collection will debut in early April with three frontmarks, each named to according to its dimensions: 650 (6” x 50, SRP per cigar is $8.00), 652 Belicoso (6” x 52, SRP per cigar is $9.50) and 750 (7” x 50, SRP per cigar is $9.00).

“To truly experience this gem of a cigar is to smoke it and taste the masterful artisanship that comes to life when one wrapper ends and the other begins in balance and harmony,” noted , director of marketing for La Gloria Cubana.

-Victoria McKee Jaworski Director of Public Relations

Pre-Light:  As I took a look at this cigar, I couldn’t help but notice how seamlessly they managed to combine the Connecticut shade and Sumatra wrappers on this thing!  The cigar smelled very sweet, with hints of raw sugar, and a strong smell of straight tobacco.  The cigar smelled wonderful, and I couldn’t wait to light up.  I clipped it with my ever trusty Palio and lit it up with my Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I took the first few puffs of this cigar, I got alot of the typical smoothness and hay flavors associated with Connecticut wrappers.  At this point, the cigar is burning great.  The ash is a little flaky, but nothing to worry about yet.  The burn is fairly straight, and the draw is darn near perfect.  At this point, the strength is a bit on the mild side, which is typical with Connecticut wrappers.  One thing I noticed at this point is that there is a bit of spice/pepper that is not normally found in connecticut shade wrappers.  Enjoying it so far!

2/3:  As I started on this portion, I had burned through the Connecticut wrapper, and was starting in on the sumatra wrapper.  As I kept smoking, The flavors went from mild to medium-full in a HURRY!  It could have been my imagination, but I liked it!  The Sumatra wrapper was offering flavors of nuts, spice, and a touch of sugar.  It’s still burning well, and the ash is holding decently.  Really enjoying it so far!

2/3:  As I continued on the cigar, the smoothness of the Connecticut wrapper was making itself known, but I was still getting a lot of raw sugar and nut flavors from the sumatra wrapper.  The draw is still outstanding, and the smoke is BILLOWING.  I haven’t seen this much smoke from a cigar in a LONG time.  Loving it!

3/3:  As I finished up this cigar, not much changed, but I am enjoying the nutty and sugary flavors that I am getting, so there are no complaints here.  Still buring decently, and the smoke is billowing.  I am really enjoying this cigar!

Overall Impression:  This is a cigar that I could definitely smoke on a regular basis.  With the mixture of flavors, and the nice burn and ash, I am really liking it.  It was a pleasure to smoke, and I am glad I have a few more.  If you can, I recommend you grab a couple to try!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

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Pre-Light:  The first thing I noticed about this cigar, is that it was perfect.  The roll was perfect, with no cracks, splits, or tears, and it felt just right, with a minimal amount of “squish” as I held it in my hands.  As I ran the cigar across my nose, I got a faint barnyard smell, with a little bit of carmel-like sweetness.  At this point, I am really looking forward to smoking this cigar.  I clipped the cigar with my ever-trusty Palio and lit it up with my standard Ronson Jetlite.

1/3:  As I lit up and took the first few puffs of this cigar, I got a good blast of the carmel sweetness I was smelling earlier.  At the back of my throat, the barnyard and hay flavors made a quick appearance, then faded away.  As I retrohaled the smoke through my nasal passages, I couldn’t help but notice how smooth it was.  It was very nice, and not real spicy, but had a great smell to it.  The ash it holding pretty tight, and the burn is very nice, and not too wavy.  So far, this cigar is living up to the hype, and I am really enjoying it, even if it is milder than what I usually smoke.

2/3:  As I continued onto the 2nd portion of this cigar, things changed up quite a bit.  The carmel-like sweetness just about went away completely, and the barnyard and hay flavors made their appearance in a big way.  I also started to get some black pepper spice on the finish, which in turn caused a bit of a burn on retrohale.  All of a sudden, it was like I was smoking a completely different cigar.  A good cigar, mind you, but a completely different cigar.  The smoke is still billowing nicely, and it is a very enjoyable smoke.

3/3:  Not much changed from the last third to this third.  The flavors stayed about the same, but the black pepper spice that made itself known got a little bit stronger as I got down toward the end of the cigar.  The smoke billowed nicely to the end of the stick, and I smoked it until I couldn’t hold onto it any longer.  The changes in flavors made for a nice interesting stick.  The burn still stayed fairly even and straight, and there were no construction problems to this point.

Overall Impression:  Overall, I found this to be one interesting cigar.  I had never experienced a cigar that made such a drastic flavor profile change from one portion to the next.  They were all excellent flavors and very enjoyable.  The price range on these sticks is really what keeps me from buying more, but I do see why they are as spendy as they are.  Great stick, not so great price.

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Don, of Don Ursulo Cigars and I met on Facebook of all places.  I am always looking for new cigar buddies to friend on facebook and twitter, so I was happy to add him as a friend.  I noticed, when I looked at his facebook page, that he did not have wide distributorship in the United States.  After a few conversations with him over facebook, he said that he would gladly send me a few samples to smoke.  What I got, I believe, are the Double Toro with the H2000 wrapper on them.  Here is a little bit from their website, www.donursulo.com about their company:

Tabacalera Don Ursulo S.A. is producing a Limited Premium Cigar Edition with a secret C-blend! Hand made in Costa Rica. Rolled by the best cigar rollers and with
the finest and most selected tobacco from Central America & The Caribbean.

The cigars are offered in 15 sizes. When you taste the richness of this creamy
medium bodied blend, you will be amazed at the intricacies of flavor that subtly
infuses themselves on to your palate. This is a smoke that offers a most pleasant surprise and a great deal of delight.

I hope you enjoy our cigars the same way we do, reserve space in your humidor,
you will not regret it.

With my best wishes from Costa Rica,
Don Ursulo

With that said, I figured there was nothing better, than to just get on with the review, so here I go!

Pre-Light:  I pulled this cigar out of the cello, and the first thing that I noticed was that the wrapper was very dark for an H2000 wrapper, but it looked really good, and smelled AWESOME!   I got some nice hints of strong natural tobacco flavors, with some sweetness I had never quite smelled in a cigar before.  Maybe it was just because I’d never had a cigar that contained Costa Rican tobacco, and maybe there really is something different in Costa Rica!

Flavors:  As I smoked this cigar, the flavors I got were some outstanding flavors of straight up tobacco, with a nice mild sweetness on the palette.  Along with the tobacco and sweetness, I got some nice hints of nuts, almost like almonds.  Very different flavors than I normally get out of cigars.  It must have something to do with the Costa Rican soil.  The flavors remained the same through a lot of the cigar, but the nuances changed up a bit at times, rotating from straight tobacco flavors, to more sweet/nutty flavors through the entire cigar.

Construction:  Overall, the construction was superb.  The cigar burned pretty much straight the entire length, and the ash held strong for about an inch before dropping off.  There were no veins, and the wrapper looked stellar.  Overall, a very nice, yet very large cigar.  Loved the look of this smoke, and the construction was very solid!

Overall Impression:  Overall, this cigar was a very nice smoke, for something different.  There were a lot of changes throughout this cigar, which kept me on my toes.  The different flavors I got out of this cigar constantly made for an interesting smoke.  I can tell you this.  I really enjoyed this cigar, and I have talked to the manager of my local cigar shop, and he has expressed serious interest in carrying this cigar.  With the complexity of flavors, stellar construction, and awesome smoke that billows forth, this is a good cigar, that I hope will make it’s presence know in the United States.  I really enjoyed these cigars, and am looking at buying some for myself to keep in the humidor!

Smoke Em If You Got Em, Buy Em If You Don’t!

Scott

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